Breast Cancer and the Breastfeeding Woman
October 10, 2007 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, cancer, health of the mother
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means it’s time for us to revisit the good news about breastfeeding and breast cancer. According to a Cornell University fact sheet:
“Although there are a few studies that report a decrease in the risk of breast cancer after only three or more months of breast-feeding, the evidence for risk reduction becomes more consistent the longer women breast-feed. The most consistent evidence of a relationship between breast-feeding and the risk of breast cancer has been reported in studies of Chinese women who breast-fed for long periods of time. In these studies, women who breast-fed for a total of six years or more (all children combined) over the course of their lives had as much as a 63% decrease in breast cancer incidence compared to women who never breast-fed.”
For more information on breast health and breast cancer, see these articles:
Breast Self-Exams in Lactating Women
Video Demonstration of Breast Self-Exam
Promising Anti-Cancer Powers of Breast Milk
Breast Cancer Testing: X-rays, Mammograms, Ultrasounds, Cat Scans
Breastfeeding after Chemotherapy, Radiation and Lumpectomy
Breastfeeding Reduces Cancer Risk
One-Sided Nursing with Full Supply
Angela, I’ve been enjoying all your posts and was particularly suprised by this one. 63% is an incredible number - just another one of the innumerable benefits of nursing (and one that you don’t hear a lot about, I might add).
Since my daughter was born almost a year and a half ago, I’ve been learning more and more about the benefits of breastfeeding (as well as the social backlash that’s attached to it). In the process, I’ve discovered blogs like yours that provide invaluable information for mothers and their babies - thank you for all your hard work! BTW, I referenced your blog and this post on my blog: http://bean-mama.blogspot.com/.
Hi, I had a lumpectomy 1 month ago. Since then my sutures have constantly drained milk because I’m breastfeeding my 2 month old baby girl. I have had to have stitches put in place 5 times in 1 month and just a little while ago milk started to leak from them again. What should I do? whats going to happen? My milk just pours from them when she feeds from that side and even when she doesn’t how is this going to heal. I’m so scared. I’ve breast fed all 5 of my children. 12, 7,5,2 and 2 months. I don’t know where else to turn Please help! I think my Dr.s and ER Dr.’s are getting tired of me.=(
~ Tracy
Hi Tracy,
I’m so sorry you are going through the stress and worry about the difficulty healing, on top of the lumpectomy and cancer itself.
Can you tell me more details about the lumpectomy — the size and location (near the nipple or the outer edge of the breast), the type of sutures being used, any medications you are taking, any thing else you might think is relevant? If you get back to me I can ask around for some help with your question. Best wishes!
Hi! thanks for wanting to help me. On my right breast. I believe it was 3 mm? and was at the top outter right side of my breast near my areola, looks to be 1 inch away from it. First it was superglued (during surgery) on the 30th of May. Then 1 small stitch was put in June 13 th (E.R.) on the 15 of June glued in the E.R. then several days later was sewn up by my
surgeon half way around my areola. That started to leak in the upper part of my stitches and I went to the E.R. They Glued it. I went back to my surgeon he stitched 2 spots and
now the spot down from the “new” stitch he has done is draining milk again so I went to the E.R. today and they didn’t want to do anything to it so I have to see my surgeon again.
My breast is deflating from loss of milk I don’t know if I should stop breastfeeding ( I don’t want to ) but it seems that pressure from my milk, breast pump and the baby is causing my stitches not to heal properly in these spots. So instead of spending time with my baby I’m always in the hospital. The only thing I’m taking is prenatal vitamins. My OB Dr. says I could use cold cabbage leaves to dry up my milk and bind it tightly and let it drain. I’m scared that might do damage to my breast more, the milk was filling in the hole that is left. Aughghgh! And it’s really doing a number on my marriage because my husband is having to miss time from work to take me to the doctor/ watch our kids. Pleeeeeeease help!!
Tracy, I’m glad you got back to me. I am in the process of asking around for more information and will get back to you as soon as I hear anything. In the meantime, you can certainly continue to breastfeed on the other side (see http://www.breastfeeding123.com/one-sided-nursing-with-full-supply/). Your milk supply will increase on that side the more you nurse, and it is possible to develop a full milk supply on one side.
As for the lumpectomy site, keep in mind that breast milk has antibacterial and other healing properties. I know you are concerned about the leakage interfering with healing though, and I hope to have more information for you soon. Hang in there!
Hi Tracy,
I sent you an email to follow up. Let me know if you did not get it!
Here is a follow-up post with a discussion of how to heal from a lumpectomy or surgery for a breast abscess on a lactating breast:
http://www.breastfeeding123.com/leaking-breast-milk-after-surgery-for-breast-abscess-or-lumpectomy/
Oh thank you! This helps so very much! I feel much better now knowing that there is info out there and that I am not the only case in the world like this. Once again thanks for your time and help. It means so much!
Angela. The hole is the size of a very large qtip. Is it possible that it can heal like this or to have more stitches? I’m scared if I go to the Dr. it’s going to be A complete disapointment 4 days later when It leaks again and burst open. Do you happen to have any info about that as well? I read the info you gave me about keeping it closed as much as possible, etc. Will this still work with a hole this size? Your words are very comforting to hear. Thanks again.
I know it is so frustrating and worrisome to you when the hole won’t heal. Perhaps it would help ease your mind to take all the information to the doctor and ask for medical advice? It seems you have not had luck with stitches and they certainly could leak again, and that the doctor might be able to go over the information, agree to a plan to dress the wound with gauze, and show you how to do that properly. Keep us posted!
Hi Angela! I went to my surgeon today at 4 pm. He used 3 or 4 staples to close the hole. He pressed on my breast all around the staples…no milk. He then put a large clear bandaid patch over my whole breast and told me to leave the patch on for several days. I just now went to the bathroom and looked at the patch ( without taking it off ) and the bottom half and the sides of it is filling up with fluid ( probably breastmilk ) also I see some blood around the edges and in the mix of it too, kinda bright looking & making the pad squishy. He also said if milk started to leak…let it leak that it would heal on it’s own. But staples today…wouldn’t that have held? Why is my bandage saturated in blood and breastmilk? He said not to take it off for several days but I feel it getting wet under bandage…should this be normal?
Hi Tracy. When the surgeon pressed on the breast it probably did not leak milk because your milk did not letdown at that time, but nursing in the meantime caused milk to flow through those ducts. I’m not surprised the hole is still leaking. My impression is that staples or stitches just hold the sides closed until the wound heals, and do not seal it closed. As you say, the surgeon said it might leak. It’s a good sign that he told you to let the milk leak and that it would heal on its own.
All the information said to keep the dressing relatively dry. That is an issue to raise with the surgeon who said to leave the patch on for several days.
Hi Angela ! So far I see no hole just some let down in milk. I’m keeping it really dry. I go back to the Dr. soon. Your words are very comforting. I took a weekend to see my mom to take my mind of my breast and it was a well needed break. I’m not letting this get me down anymore as long as my baby is getting what she needs. She covers my breast with her lil’ arm and guards it to make sure that I’m not going to take it away from her when it’s feeding time…it’s so cute! Hope all is well and thanks again. Sorry I’m such a bother! LOL
Tracy, I was so happy to hear from you, and with such a good report! I hope things just keep getting better and better from here on out.
I love the story of your daughter covering your breast to guard it
Please keep me posted on your progress!